Lace ~ L.s.

21.// Basin

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The summer started to slip through their fingers, the pages on the tear-away calendar disappearing with every sunset. Liam and Zayn never ended up leaving as promised, their house remaining untouched and untrodden, leaving the front walk to Louis and Harry's residence dirty with sand and worn with days filled with ocean and laughter.

The tension between Liam and Zayn never quite left, however.

Day in and day out it seemed to be masked behind a thin veil of ignorance, whether it be from Harry's sheer inability to see any problems or Zayn's grip on Liam and their issues behind the bedroom door.

Louis, however, was different.

Between trying to keep Harry in line and out of trouble or keeping work and home in tow, their was always something nagging at him whenever Liam walked into a room unattended, as if there was an invisible leash keeping him tethered to the man upstairs with the pomade and cigarettes.

Something needed to be done, he decided.

But when? Zayn was always a room over, no more than 20 paces if he walked and a hop-skip-and-a-jump if he ran. Louis couldn't remember the last time he saw Liam in a building alone.

At dinner one night, he happened to be pondering over this particular problem between bites of his popover, trying to decipher between locking he and Liam in a room or-

maybe the car?

Nah, Zayn would have a key.

Right?

Or maybe he'd call-

"D-dee?"

Louis swallowed and glanced over at Harry, who was staring at him with an intentness that was more than concerned. "No say n-nothing," Harry continued quietly.

Louis shifted and forced a smile, picking his napkin out of his lap and using it to wipe his mouth, a half-hearted attempt to hide the obvious discomfort on his face. "'M fine, babe, just tired is all," he said, crumpling the napkin into a ball and using his other hand to pat Harry on the thigh. "Not hungry?" He asked, in response to the obvious piling of food on Harry's plate.

Harry shook his head. "N-no, but Z-Zayn make very good n-noodle," he said with a grin to the man in compliment's way, who in turn gave a small smile and nod.

Louis, upon noticing most of their forks were down and all had stopped eating, pushed his chair back and started to gather his utensils. "Great dinner, guys," he said. "Compliments to the chef."

Liam giggled a bit and stood to follow suit, picking up his plate and cup. Before he could start to the kitchen, however, Zayn grabbed his arm, pulling him with gentle force down to his level. "I'm going to head to the store for more cigs, hurry with your things," he said.

Louis' eye twitched, and he had to refrain from scoffing. More of a command than a request, really.

Gathering a bit of courage, he glanced at Liam. "Well, Liam, maybe you could stay and help me with dishes? I could sure use the extra help."

Zayn tightened his grip on Liam's arm. "No. Harry can help you," he responded plainly.

Louis shook his head. "No, Harry's tired. I'd like Liam's help. Besides, you're only going down the road. You won't be gone long, Zayn."

There was silence. Zayn ground his teeth in thought, glancing between Louis and Liam in skepticism. Finally, he let go of Liam's arm with a reluctant nod, much to Louis' suspicious relief. Liam, a bit frightened, glanced at Louis with wide eyes, who in turn gave a knowing nod and motioned for him to be quiet with his finger.